Time switch



M y 1931- R. 'r. RUTH-ERFORD. 1,805,010

' TIME SWITCH Filed Dec 9. 1929 INVENTOR, H .g j- 7 BY 7 f ATTORNEYPatented May 12, 193 1 i UNITED STATES A ENT OFFICE ROMILLY a.RUTHERFORD,OF ALAMEDA, oamroimra, ASSIGNOR-TO woonBAIm m CORPORATION,LTD., A COBPYORATYIONOFCALIFORNIA TIME swm'cn Application filed December9, 1929. Serial No. 412,799.

This invention relates to improvements in time switches of the kindadapted for use in automatically closing and opening circuits to a radioreceiving set or other apparatus to be operated.

An object of my invention'is to provide an improved coin or tokencontrolled switch for automatically opening and closing circuits.

Another objectof my invention is to provide an improved time; switchwhich is so operated upon the insertion of a coin or token therein as toclose a circuit to a radio receiving set or other apparatus, andmaintain the said circuit in a closed position for a definite periodoftime.

A further object of my invention. is to provide an improved time switchwhich is adapted to receivecoins of different denominations, and tomaintain circuits in closed positions for definite periods of time,dependent upon the particular .kind of coin inserted therein. f o

A still further object of my invention is to providezan improved timeswitch for closing and opening a circuit to a device to be operated,having coin slots of different sizes and means for maintaining a circuitin a closed position for a definite period of time, dependent upon thesize of the coin inserted therein.

Other objects more or less apparent will present themselves or will bespecifically pointed out in the description to follow: In theaccompanying drawings: 7 Figure l is a front elevation'of a switchconstructed in accordance with my invention; 7 Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line'3 ,3-of"Figure2; and

line of Figure 1;

7 Referring to the drawings the numeral designates a supporting memberhaving chutes 2 and 8 mountedthereon in spaced relationship with onedirectly behind the other, each of which issuitable in sizetoaccommodate a coin or token ofa particular size or denomination.

Figure 4 is a seotionalview taken on the the supporting member 1, as byscrews, is a thermostatic rod 4 comprised of two suitably attachedstrips of material, the inner strip "German silver strip. When the rodcools oflt' Suitably secured at one endto the back of T v(ill the freeend thereof moves inwardlyor toward the supporting member due to themore rapid contraction of the inner or copper strip. 'An insulated wire5, connected to terminals 6 and 7 mounted on aninsulated. plate 8 whichis supported on a bracket 9' secured to the front side of the supportingmember 1, winds around the thermostatic rod 4 for a number'of times, andserves as means said wires. 1 'Slidably extending through suitable slotslocated in a supporting bar 9 is a rod 10 having anupwardly andrearwardly bent part 11. The rod 10. extends through the supportingmemberl and is'provid ed at a point at the rear of the latter with aslot ornotch The rod 10 slidably extends through suitable slots locatedat the lower parts'of the chutes 2 and 3, andnormally the said rodsupports a coin or token'dropped into either of the chutes. The rod10'is provided at predetermined points therein with notches 13 and 14,the former beingadapted to register with the for applying heat to thesaid rod when a' current of electricity ispa'ssed throughthe opening inthe chute 2 and the latterbeing adapted to register with the opening inthe chute 3." When the thermostatic rod 4 becomes hated andlcarries therod 10 for a predetermined distance in abackward direction, the notch13- is brought into registry with the slot in the coin chute 2 therebypermitting a coinin the latter to drop'therefrom. Likewise as the freeend of the thermostatic passingthrough *the said chutes until thethermostatic rod 4""has cooled suflici'ently to move back to its normalposition.

Pivotally mounted on a pin 17 secured to the bracket 9' andthesupportinginember 1 is a rod 18 carrying a cross piece 19 which issecured to one of its ends. The ends of the ;cross,-piece 19. extendinto an arcuate slot 20 located in ea chofithe;chutes 2' and 3 and thesaid erosspiece is adapted to intercept-coins .-or-; tokens droppedintoeither of the said chutes. ;The:-rod18 is normally maintainedi-nyaninclined position, with the: cross piece positioned. at the upperends of the slots 20, by aspring 21 secured to: an endofthe said ro'dandto: a'projection22-on thebracket 9'. A coin dropped into either of thechutes 2 or 3 will-intercept the: cross piece 19- and carry the same:downwardly to a point adj acent the lower-ends of the sl'ots'20.":Suitablysecured to andmounted on the rod 18 at a point above.thefplVOtill; pin.17 is a mercury switch'23 comprising: a. glass-container"23"rhaving 1 a suitable .quantity of mercury" therein. EX-tending into the glass container are two wires 24-.and .25 the. endsof-whichxare positioned just: above thebottom surfaoeofthe glasscontainer. -A lso extending inside the glass-container is a third wire26 the inwardly disposed endsof which-is positioned at a pointconsiderably above the bottom ofthe. glass container. The-mercury in.the glass. containeris adapted to contact with the wire. 26 only whenthe rod 18 and the-:glass container havepbeen :pivotally moved to adownwardly tiltedposition with the crosspiece 19 located ,atzthe-extremelower ends of'the slots 20.-as showmbyxthe'dotted lines in-Figure 1. The.mercuryi will contact-:with :the wires 24: and 25* when thecross piece18 is positioned at a predetermined L'distancev considerably 1 abovethe;extremenlower-en'dsof the slots20. The vwire-:24:isconnected to aterminal27, the wire 25ztoa'rterminalz 2 8, and :the wire. 26. to the.terminal 7 each of the-terminals being mounted on: the insulated plate8.

The terminal: 6 .is suitably connected to a 'deviceto be operated, suchas. a radio receiv ing setbyra 'wire'29,1and also to a source ofelectricity by a'wire' 30. The source of elec tricity is connectedto'the terminal 28 by a wire? .31, while the :device to be operated isaonnectedtoithe terminal 27 by: a wire'32.

ilmoperzition .a coin or token of suitable size or denomination is.inserted into either of: the chutes: 2 or '3, say. :chute .2, thereafter24, 25 and 26.

intercepting and carrying the cross piece 19 to a point at the extremelower ends of the slots 20. The rod 18 is thereby moved on its pivot toa downwardly tilted position, and the mercury in the mercury switch 23moves to the opposite end of the glass container 23 whereitcontactswith.all three of the wires The circuits to the source of electricity,to the device to be operated and to" the wires 5- are all closed,thefebypermittingacurrent of electricity to enter the switch and passthrough the wires 5 to heat the" thermostatic rod 4. The circuit to thedevicetobe operated being closed, permits the said device to commenceoperating. As the current-of electricity passes through. the '-wires5,the thermostatic rod-tbecomeszheated and-bends in such aimannerastonnoveits free end outwardlyaway from the supporting member 1, thereby causingthe'rod lOto gradual-1y move to a pointwhere thernotch 13 thereinregisters with the :opening: through the ohute'2. xAsgsoon-.=asthesnotchregisters with the opening through the chute 2, the

coin or token therein.isspermitted' to :drop

downwardly through the said chute and from the end thereof,.therebyzallowing'ethe spring 21v to; move" the: rod 18 on: the pivot in such amanner thatrthe cross piece 19is carried :u-pwardly in the slots.20.:Thewrod: 18 on its upward movementiinterceptsaa projecting member 33-secured to therearwardly bent part 11 of the rod 10,the;:said:proje'cting memberbei-ng so located: as=to permit theiuninterrupted downward movement. .of 5

the rodz18when the thermostatic rodrd. is;in its normal. position. The'PIOjQ'CtlDgLHIBDQbBI 33, when the rod 10 moves rearwardlyfforiapredetermined distance,:is carried to a position whereit .is adapted tointercept the rod 18 and maintain the mercury switch :23 :in sutc-happosition that only the-wires 24e-and 25 are in contact with themercury. As-soon as the mercury switoh23 is moved by' the rod .18 toaposition where the mercury .therein :no longer contacts with the wire26, theiflo-w. of electricity through "wires =5 "ceases, and thethermostatic rod -is allowed; vto cool. As the thermostatic-rod 4. coolsand gradually resumes its normal position',the rod 10 as well as theprojecting member 33 are moved forwardly, but only-after the elapse of acer tain interval of time and-until the thermo static rod 4. has moved:therod 1O 'sufiiciently to carry'the said member33 free ffrom the rod 18are the circuits'from the sourceofelectrici-ty andto the device being:operated broken. During the time "the proje'cti-ng member 33 is incontact-with the rod '18, the mercury switch 23 is maintained in asubstantially' horizontal position with the mercury therein contactingwith only" the wires 24 and25. The circuit to the devicebeing-operatedns well: as thecircuit from the -source of electricity,are during this 1 time maintained ;in closed positions, therebypermitting the continued operation of the device; As soon as .thethermostatic rod 4'l1as sufliciently moved the rod '10 and theprojecting member 33in a forward direction to permit the rod 18 to themercury therein does not contact with the wires 24 and 25. Upon themovement of the mercury away from the wires 24 and 25, the circuits tothe source of electricity and to the device being operated are brokenthereby preventing the further operation of the device until anothercoin or token passes ofthe terminals, a thermostatic rod mounted throughone of the chutes 2 or 3.

It will be noted that the normal position of the notches 13 and 14 inthe rod 10 withsuch that the rod 10 will have to be moved by thethermostatic rod 4 for a greater distance in a backward direction tobring the notch 14 into registry with the opening through chute 3. Thusif a coin were inserted in chute 3 instead of in chute 2 as abovedescribed, the current would have to be applied to the thermostatic rod4 for a longer time in order to cause its free end to bend backwardsufficiently to carry the rod 10 to a point whereits notch 14 registerswith the opening through the chute 3. The added length of time requiredto both heat the thermostatic rod 4 and to cool the same, willproportionately maintain the circuits herein described in closedpositions for a longer length of time than if a coin were inserted inchute 2, thereby permitting the device to be operated for a greaterlength of time.

It is to be understood that any suitable type of switch may besatisfactorily employed with my invention in place of the mercury switchherein described. Itis also to be understood that my improved switch maybe embodied in other forms included within the spirit of my invention asdefined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A switch comprising a support having a 1 coin or token chute thereon,a rod pivotally mounted on the support having means for intercepting acoin or token dropped into the chute, the said rod being adapted to bemoved by a coin or token when dropped into the chute, a thermostatmounted on the support, a

- plurality of contact points carried by the rod,

I chute.

the said contact points being connected with the terminals of a numberof circuits, a wire leading from one of the terminals and one of 2. Aswitch comprising a support a coin or token chute thereon, meansactuated by a coin or token dropped into the chute for contacting withthe terminals of a'number of having circuits, a thermostaticrod mountedon the. support having an electrical conductor connected lIOCGI'tfllIlof the terminals, and means actuated by the thermostatic rod fortemporarily supporting a coinor token in the chute.

3. A, switch comprising in combination with a support having a coin ortoken chute thereon, means pivotally mounted on the support and adaptedto be actuated by a coin or token dropped into the chute, a plurality ofcircuits having terminals mounted 'on the support, contacting meanscarried by the first mentioned means for engaging with-certain on thesupport having'electricity conducting means connected to certain of theterminals and means actuated by the thermostatic rod for temporarilysupporting ,a coin or token being adapted to be actuated by thethermofrom the chute. V. 1

4. 'A switch comprising in combination token chutes thereon, each chutebeing adapted to receive a coin or tokenof certain size 'ordenomination, a plurality oflcircuits having terminals mounted on thesupport,

means extending into the chutes andadapted to intercept a coin or tokendroppedinto in the chute, the said last mentioned means Q static rod topermit a coin or token to drop with a support having a plurality of coinor :2

either of the chutes, contacting means carried by the first mentionedmeans for engaging with certain of-the terminals, whereby, cer- Min ofthe circuits may be closed at a certain time, and a thermostaticmeans'associa'ted with one of the circuits for controlling the movementof the chutes. 1

5. A switch comprising in combination token chutes thereon, a pluralityof circuits coins or tokens through the ,105 with a support having aplurality of coin or having terminals mounted on the support,meansactuatedby a coin or token dropped support having one of thecircuits connected thereto, means actuated by a coin or tokeninsertedinto any" one of the chutes, the said means carrying contacting. meansfor engaging with certain of the terminals, whereby certain of thecircuits may be closed, and Y means actuated by the thermostatic rod forcontrolling the movement of a coin or token through any of the chutes.

7. In it'tiIDG-SWltCll, a supporthaving 9.

plurality ofcoin or token .chutesthereon,:thesupportzandactnated-;byanoinwpassing thermostatic-means mount-ed onthe support, through the ichuterfor contactingv-With-the havingmeansassociated therewith for. conterminals-of the circuits,-wherebyi'ithe; said trolling the movement of a coin or token circuitsmaybe closed at certain times.

passingxthrough any of the chutesyan elee In testimony whereof I: haveaflixed rmy tricity conductor engaging with the thermo- Signature.

static means, and meansactuated by a coin or token'dropped into any ofthe .chutesfor causing electricity to pass through the con ductor,

8. In a time switch, asupport having .a plurality of coin or tokenchutes thereon, thermostatic means mounted-on the support having meansassociated therewith for'controlling the movement of coins or tokensinserted into the chutes, electricity conducting -means for transferringheat to the :thermostatic means having-terminals mounted on the support,and means actuated by a coin or token passing through a chute, havingcontacting means adapted to engage-Amt]; the terminals, wherebyelectriclty may pass through the electricity conductingmeans to applyheat to the thermostaticmeans.

9. In a time switch, a support'havinga coin ortoken chute thereon, athermostatic rod mounted on the support having means for controlling themovement of a coin or token through the chute, electricity conductingmeans mounted on the thermostaticrod having its terminals mountedonthesupportand connected to a source of electricity, and means actuatedby a coin dropping through the chute having a mercury switch thereon,certain terminals in the mercury switch being connected to the terminalsof the electricity conducting means.

i 10. In a time switch, a support havinga coin or token chute thereon,thermostatic means for controlling the movement of a coin ortoken'through the chute, means-actuated by the thermostatic means fortemporarily supporting a coin or tokenin the chute and means actuated bya coin or token passing through the chute for opening and closingianelectrical circuit to the thermostatic means.

"11? In a time switch, a support having-a coin or token chutethereonfthermostatic means'for controlling the movement ofa coin ortoken'through the chute, an electrical circuitleading to thethermostatic means, an electrical circuit leading to a device tovbeoperated, and a pivoted rodextending into the chute and actuated by acoin or token passing through the chute for controlling the flow ofelectricitythroughthe.saidcircuits.

12JIn a time switch, a supporthaving :a coin or token chute thereon,thermostatic means for controlling the movementof a coin or tokenthrough the chute, a pluralityof electrical circuits having-terminalsmounted on the support,one of said circuits being connected to a sourceof electricity,another to a device to be operated and another to thethermostatic -means, and means mounted on ROMILLY 1T. RUTHERFORD.

